to your housekeeper, and she is quite
agreeable--if you are."

He did not think it necessary to reply to that hint, but just smiled
and closed his eyes. She took up a palm-leaf fan and fanned him,
watching him anxiously. It was a roasting February day, and he was
breathing very badly.

"Have you given up your house?" he asked, when he could speak.

"Long ago. No use my staying there alone. Besides, I could not afford
it."

"Francie not much good to you, I suppose?"

"Oh, I don't want her to be good to me."

"Keziah Moon hasn't deserted you, of course?"

"Oh, Keziah--she was moped to death, poor old woman--I found her a
nuisance. And then those babies of Rose's were so irresistible. I
thought she'd better go. As Rose's head-nurse, I believe she is in her
element."

"Is Rose happy with her draper?"

"I don't know--I suppose so."

"You don't see much of her?"

"Not much."

"And Mary?"

"I haven't seen her for months. Her husband and I don't hit it off,
somehow."

"Deb, how much have you to live on?"

"That's my business, sir."

"Not the business of a doting godfather--in the absence of nearer male
relatives?"

"No. His business is only to see that I learn the catechism and present
myself to be confirmed; and I've done both."

"That all?"

"Except to let his doting godchild take care of him when he is ill.
Now--don't talk any more."

He was too exhausted to do so. And while he lay feebly fighting for
breath, the trained nurse came in and took command.

In the evening that functionary gave a professional opinion.

"He is worried about something," she said to Deb, "and it is very bad
for him. Do you know what it is?"

"Not in the least," said Deb promptly. "I have not been seeing him for
years, I am sorry to say, and have not the slightest knowledge of his
affairs."

But next day she seemed to get an inkling of what the worry was. Mr
Thornycroft, when they were alone together, begged her to tell him if
she had any money difficulties--debts, she supposed--and to be frank
with him for old times' and her father's sake.

"What! are you bothering your mind about that?" she gently scolded him.
"I assure you I am all right. I haven't any difficulties--or hardly
any--not now. I have no rent, you see."

"They don't charge you anything where you board?" "No. Redford never
has charged folks for board. Seriously," she hastened to add, in
earnest tones, "I have all I want. And if I try presently to e